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Concussion Protocol Watch

A checklist for after a blow to the head: the danger signs the US CDC says need emergency care, first steps and what to ask a healthcare provider.

What this tool does

A checklist for after a blow to the head: the danger signs the US CDC says need emergency care, first steps and what to ask a healthcare provider.

How to use

  1. Work down the list and tick each item as you finish it.
  2. Ticks are saved on this device, in your browser, so they are still there when you come back.

What this checklist covers

The list has 5 groups and 23 items.

  • Right after a bump, blow or jolt to the head (CDC HEADS UP steps) (5 items): Stop the sport or activity right away; Check for the danger signs in the next section; Keep them out of sport for the rest of the day and until a healthcare provider clears them; Do not try to judge how serious it is yourself. Have a healthcare provider check them; Know your local emergency number and keep a phone within reach
  • Danger signs: get emergency care at once if you see any (CDC list) (8 items): One pupil larger than the other, or double vision; A headache that gets worse and does not go away; Repeated nausea or vomiting; Convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching); Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination; Not able to recognise people or places; Unusual behaviour, increased confusion, restlessness or agitation; Loss of consciousness with increasing drowsiness, inability to wake up, or inability to stay awake
  • Babies and toddlers: also danger signs (CDC list) (2 items): Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled; Will not nurse or eat
  • Keep watching over the next hours and days (5 items): Keep checking: CDC says signs may not show up right away and can take hours or days to appear; Watch for looking dazed, stunned or confused, clumsy movement, slow answers, or changes in mood or behaviour; Ask about headache, nausea, dizziness, trouble with light or noise, feeling foggy and changes in sleep; Write down what you notice and when, to tell the healthcare provider; Ask the healthcare provider how long someone should stay with the injured person
  • Going back to school, work and sport (3 items): Ask the healthcare provider for written recovery instructions; Wait for a healthcare provider to clear a return to sport. CDC says that decision is a medical one; Ask the healthcare provider when school, work and driving are safe again

Tip: Any one danger sign means emergency care now. Do not wait to finish the list. Call your local emergency number.

Limitations

  • This page is general information and not medical advice. It does not diagnose, assess or monitor anyone, and it does not replace a healthcare provider.
  • The danger signs and steps are those published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a United States agency, mainly about children and teenagers. Health services in other countries publish their own guidance.
  • Do not wait to finish the list before getting help. If you see a danger sign or you are worried about someone after a head injury, call your local emergency number.
  • The list is not complete. A person can need urgent care with a sign that is not on it.
  • It is one general list. It does not adapt to age, the type of injury or anyone's health history.
  • Ticks, added items and removed items are saved only in this browser on this device.

FAQs

Q: What are the danger signs after a head injury?
A: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists them in its HEADS UP material: one pupil larger than the other or double vision, a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated nausea or vomiting, convulsions or seizures, slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination, not recognising people or places, unusual behaviour or increased confusion, restlessness or agitation, and loss of consciousness with increasing drowsiness or not being able to wake up or stay awake. For babies and toddlers it adds crying that will not stop and refusing to nurse or eat.
Q: What should I do if I see a danger sign?
A: Get emergency care at once. CDC tells readers in the United States to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Q: Can this checklist tell me if someone has a concussion?
A: No. It cannot assess or diagnose anyone, and CDC says not to try to judge the severity of a concussion yourself. A healthcare provider has to check the person.
Q: When can they play sport again?
A: This page gives no schedule. CDC says to keep the person out of sport on the day of the injury and until a healthcare provider clears them, and that the decision to return is a medical one.
Q: Where does the list come from?
A: The danger signs, the first steps and the signs to keep watching for are from the CDC HEADS UP pages "Signs and Symptoms of Concussion" and "Responding to a Sports-related Concussion", read on 9 October 2026. The first is written about children and teenagers, the second about athletes in sport.
Q: Are my ticks saved?
A: Yes, in your browser on this device. They are not sent anywhere and do not follow you to another device or browser.

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